Interstate tank

Hi all-

The rebuilding of my 74 commando is nearing completion. I am interested in purchasing a steel interstate tank but seem to have had no luck in finding a used one in good shape. I am very reluctant to purchase a “new” one from India, but am hopeful someone can provide positive feedback about a reliable source for a new one or perhaps direct me somewhere for a good original used one.

Thank you all for your feedback!

Tom

 

Nobody makes repro interstate tanks except India. Keep checking ebay, I found a real norton one year's ago there.

 

https://www.accessnorton.com/Norton...on-about-the-candy-apple-colour-scheme.27115/

I went through this exercise about a year ago as reported here.

other than what I already reported her the only thing I would add is there are no internal baffles so I will need to use that internal baffle foam that they use in race cars and aircraft. There is a lot of gas in there.

There was a fair bit of work getting the gas taps right and the lid fitting properly. But in the end it looks perfect.

 

There are a couple of places in the UK make alloy interstate tanks. I have a fibre glass tank which seems to be holding up.

 

Keep checking eBay. I found one a couple of years ago in great shape and wasn’t too expensive - about 350.00 US. At least I thought so and was willing to pay that. Good luck.

 

$350 is a good deal. Mine cost waaaaay more than that just to paint

 

Thanks for the comments, everyone.
If anyone has a name of a source for an aluminum interstate tank in the UK, please let me know. I would prefer an original steel tank, but perhaps aluminum would work.

Since there seems to be demand, wondering if Andover has considered outsourcing proper versions as they have for the Roadster..

 

I asked them that question and they replied they couldnt be certain they could get a quality product and sell enough of them to make a profit. There was a lot of work fettling mine to get it right which most people would not accept from a name supplier.

In my opinion the most important part which is unobtainable these days is the drive side crank. A very great many Commandos are running around with cracked crankshafts these days and their owners don’t know. The reason is the poor ie non existent radius between the drive side “pork chop” and drive shaft.


Again Andover said they couldn’t find a supplier who could or would make a good replacement

 

A buddy of mine bought one of those alloy Interstate tanks for his 72. Not sure from where, but it wasn't US. It has a nice shape, and came highly polished. Had issues with fuel taps, apparently the thread they used is metric. And his gas cap doesn't fit 100% properly. Overall he's quite happy with it.

 

I went the same route as Johnm. I bought an interstate tank made in india (a bare metal tank from "rsvintage2014") It also has no baffles inside the tank. My only issue was the roll pin hole on the tank's filler neck was poorly drilled. I drilled it out to the next roll pin size and drilled out the filler cap pivot hole to that next size too. Problem solved.

If you buy a bare metal tank and you want the tank to look really good, you have to put some time into prepping and panting it, then you also must have the painting skill to produce a nice finish. Finally, you need to use a proper fuel resistant top coat material or your efforts will be ruined by the chemicals in the fuel. Both johnm and I got good tanks, but buying off ebay from india can be a crap shoot. As I recall, I got mine from "Rsvintage2014" and the cost back then was $154. with shipping. (which is dirt cheap) Here's a picture of my tank below. At the time I bought it, I thought $154. with shipping included was a significant enough savings to take the risk. For me, it worked out, but I am just a single data point of those who bought tanks from india.

 

I have a 6.5 (US) gallon steel Interstate tank on my bike. Since gasoline weighs 6.183 pounds per gallon, that comes to 40 pounds of fuel. I have noticed at Norton rallies that some Interstate tanks are an inch wider than mine. I now own a very rough original fiberglass Interstate tank and it really is an inch wider than my steel tank.

The problem I see with tanks from India is that it seems like they are making them from photographs and possibly a frame to set them on to make sure they fit. Notably, the Fastback tanks are too pointy in the front. My plan is to send my fiberglass Interstate and an original Fastback tank to Sheng Precisions (who I actually met at his shop in New Delhi) He will then have accurate copies of both and I (we) will be able to order some good tanks. I realize that he has a poor reputation for timeliness which I'm hoping can be put down to an actual illness he had as well as confusion over exactly what was being ordered.
Wish me luck.

 

Good luck to you!!

 

http://tabclassics.com/product-category/tanks/norton/

There are others. A few mins with Google should find them.
The below company took 12 months to produce a Seeley fuel and oil tank, very nice work though.

http://www.holtworks.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d74_Norton_2015.html

 

I have a steel interstate tank but I’m located in Scotland, I’ll dig it out and see what it’s like.

 

http://wilcoxmetal.com/england.htm

 

NOS steel, original factory paint.
I traded the tank and the side covers out but I believe he still has them. As you might guess they are not inexpensive.

 

That's a nice set, Mark. You must have wanted a Roadster pretty bad to swap them out.

 

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/mpo/d/ringwood-triumph-bsa-norton-gas-tanks/7020543780.html

 

You're right Dan...I did want the Roadster. Memories from high school when I saw my first Commando, guess what color it was.
I got a very fair return on my trade out, including these, also NOS original paint, which I painted black.
I am not fond of Canary Yellow (no offense to others, just personal preference) and I had a specific "finished" vision in mind.

 

P. Egan once said "There are 3 colors you should paint a motorcycle and 2 of them are black".
<---That was a yellow Roadster when I bought it. Didn't stay that way long.